Half to gtjstave a



(No Model.)

N. H, BLEDSOE. IDENTIFYING CHEGK.

N0. 513;978. Patented Feb. 6, 1894.

WITNESSES: fl/ INVENTOI? M4! V B). V/QW v UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE,

NATHANIEL H. BLEDSOE, OFFORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO GUSTAVE A. RABUS, OF SAME PLACE.

IDENTIFYING-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,978, dated February 6, 18

Applioation filed January 18, 1893. Serial No. 4531 (N0 mod To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL H. BLEDSOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Identifying-Checks; and I dohercby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specificalon. My invention relates to improvements in ldentlfying checks adapted and designed to be attached by the owner or traveler to his trunk or other baggage, said improvement bemg also adapted for a key-holder or key-check for use in hotels.

It is often advantageous and desirable for a traveler or passenger to have some device attached or secured to his baggage by which in case of mistake on the part of the carrier, or

ger of loss of room keys by their being inadvertently carried away by the guests, but whlch in addition to bearing the name of the hotel and the room to which said key belongs, can also be conveniently used in this connect on as a neat, attractive and valuable advertlsmg medium.

The object, therefore, of myinvention is to provide a cheap, unique and convenient device which is admirably adapted to serve elther or both of these purposes, by slight and immaterialmodifications thereof.

My invention consists'in two semielliptical plates preferably in the form of a horse shoe, though I do not hereby confine myself to that particular form, the said plates being secured together one within the other, and adapted to secure when desired a third central plate on which business cards or other advertising matter can be inscribed or otherwise arranged.

The objects of my invention are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improvement arranged for use as an identifying check for baggage. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line YY. Fig. 3 is avertical section of the same on the line NN.

The semielliptical plate A, of any suitable material, preferably of metal, is provided with a vertical flange b upon its outer or convex perimeter, of such a height as to be flush with the outer surface, of the semielliptical plate B when the same is in position upon the plate A. At the ends of the plate A the flange b is lengthened and bent over parallel with'the inner surface of said plate, thus forming at either end of said plate a recess or slot a into which the ends of plate B are readily adjusted and firmly secured when the screw E, which pierces'both of said plates, is secured in the swivel D.

The plate B is of the same general form as plate A and of the same size and dimensions excluding the flange b. Upon the upper surface of the plate B may be properly engraved the name of the hotel using the same, the number of the room to which the attached key belongs, or other suitable matter. The reverseside of the plate 0 and the outer face of the plate A is designed and adapted for advertising matter arranged in any desirable manner.

In that form of my invention adapted for use as an identifying baggage check shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3, the plates A and B are constructed and arranged in all respects as above described, excepting that the plate B is preferably provided with a star or crescent G or other brace joining the two parts thereof, and designed for the inscription of a menogram or other device, and excepting that the plate B may be provided with slots m,m

- through which slots the owners name and address may be read either upon an inserted card or plate, or as engraved uponthe inner surface of the plate A, though neither the said star, nor the said slots are at all essential to my improvement.

In the form of my improvement just described and seen in Fig. 1, an intermediate plate can be used if desired which can readily be arranged between the plates A and B in a well understood manner and the user thereof can then, if he desires, insert his picture in a proper manner between the parts of the said plate B and upon the plate directly above the said star or other device, or other brace so that in case of serious accident or sudden death of its traveling owner my improvement would be a valuable aid in identification. Through a suitable perforation the screw E is inserted and is adapted to firmly clamp the free ends of the swivel D inclosing the plates A and B, by means of which swivel my said device can be securely attached in any proper manner to a hotel key or to the proper baggage. It will at once be seen that removing the screw E and the swivel D the plates B and the said intermediate plate can readily be removed or replaced or a card or an additional plate can be conveniently inserted and removed at pleasure, while the said plates when in position for use are firmly and rigidly secured by the flange b and the recess a with the screw E and the swivelD, the said flange leaving no opening between the said plates.

My invention is of economical construction, may be made of any suitable material and of any desired size, is convenient in use and is secure against breakage or the efiects of the Weather when attached to baggage.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In an identifying check, the combination of the semielliptical plate A having a vertical flange 1) upon its convex perimeter, and a transverse slot or recess a upon the ends of said plate, adapted to retain and secure the plate B when mounted thereon, the plate B adapted to fit upon the plate A flush with the flange b and having slots m and m, and a brace G, with the swivel D and the screw E, all substantially as set forth and described.

Signed by me this 14th day of January, 1893.

NATHANIEL H. BLEDSOE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. ORoURKE, HENRY G. MILLER. 

